Best Natural Health Supplements

Natural Health Supplements that Work

You are probably aware that searching for high-quality natural health supplements can be a monumental task.

Let us begin by saying that we the editors of Nutritional Supplement Educational Centre have all our lives used natural remedies to combat health ills. Like many consumers, we also know how important it is to take a high-quality natural health supplement to serve as a foundation to help ward off disease and enjoy sustained vibrant health. In fact, over the years we have tried hundreds of nutritional supplements on the market. Some we tried were for health issues, while others were used as nourishment to boost our health, vitality, and reverse the effects of aging.

In time, we became very involved in researching supplements, including the functions of nutrients. This will no doubt come as surprise to most consumers, but the FDA does not analyze supplement products before they are sold to consumers. The manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that the ingredient list is accurate and that the ingredients are safe. The manufacturer is also required to make sure that the content matches the amount declared on the label.

So who's policing the manufacturers? Right now, there are only a few governmental standards in place to control the production and ensure the safety, effectiveness, and quality of dietary supplements. So it falls to you, the consumer, to gather truthful information about using these products safely, as well as about which manufacturers can be trusted to sell high-quality supplements. In fact, the FDA must prove a supplement is unsafe before it can be taken off the market.

Now as you well know, there are tens of thousands of natural health supplements out there all claiming to be the best. And unfortunately, through our years of research we came to two very important conclusions.

First, it is very difficult to find an honest natural health supplement -- one that actually contains the amount of ingredients stated on the label and/or one that did not harbor contaminates. In fact, according to Consumerlab.com, the leading provider of independent test results states:

"Testing by ConsumerLab.com shows that one in four supplements in the United States lacks the promised ingredients or has other serious problems."

The second problem is that many manufacturers of natural health supplements make absolutely outrageous claims with respect to their efficacy and most of these claims are pure marketing hype, with little to no scientific evidence or clinical studies to back them up. On a positive note, however, in the course of our research, we did find some very reputable manufactures that were very committed to selling high-quality natural health supplements, but there were other considerations that disqualified them.

Now, before we delve into what natural health supplements we take, it's important to note that nutritional biochemistry is far more complex than most people understandably may realize.

For example, zinc won't function without vitamin B6, nor can some enzymes be made without it. Both magnesium and selenium need vitamin B6 in order to function properly, and the thyroid requires a minimum of one amino acid, which is tyrosine.

Put simply, no nutrient is an island unto itself, meaning every nutrient requires other nutrients as cofactors, either for activation or function from each of the nutrient categories, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. For activation, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids require enzymes, and for function, essential fatty acids are also needed.

Bottom line: Nutrients work together synergistically and some nutrients cannot work at all without each other.

It's also important to understand that many ingredients can end up canceling each other out or have harmful side effects when combined. On the other hand, there are also many nutrients that can enhance the therapeutic benefits of each other.

For example, alpha lipoic acid is a vitamin-like compound that has proved to be many times more potent than such old guard antioxidants as vitamins C and E. As a perk, it even recycles vitamins C and E as well as the powerhouse antioxidant -- glutathione (and other antioxidants), enhancing their effectiveness. In fact, if your stores of antioxidant vitamins C or E are low, alpha lipoic acid can fill in temporarily.

In short, antioxidants work as a team and, as such, it's better to take smaller doses of several different types of antioxidants rather than just take a few at higher doses. More specifically, a full spectrum of antioxidants working together is much more beneficial for warding off cancer and illness than Vitamin E and C on its own.

Now, there are valid reasons when you might want to take an individual supplement with just one ingredient. However, this should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional. In fact, all dietary supplements, including natural health supplements should always be discussed with a qualified health care professional before consumption.

What We Take

Comprehensive and Honest Natural Health Supplement

Our quest to find the right natural health supplement for ourselves eventually led us to a company headquartered in New Zealand where the manufacturing regulations for dietary supplements are very stringent -- far exceeds FDA standards.

In addition to their stringent manufacturing standards, the product we take is nutrition-packed! In fact, it contains a broad range of over 70 specialized nutrients that the body needs for vibrant health.

Besides being jam packed with nutrients, the product is formulated to tackle four important anti-aging factors (free radicals, glycation, methylation, and chronic inflammation) which, in turn, slows down the aging process and minimizes the risk of degenerative disease. In short, normal and ordinary supplements are only focused on reducing free radicals through the use of antioxidants. However, preventing glycation and the formation of AGEs, as well as reducing chronic inflammation, and balancing methylation for healthy DNA are also important for a successful anti-aging program.

The company that produces this product is aptly named Xtend-Life Natural Products, and their flagship product, called Total Balance, was just the type of natural health supplement we were looking for -- an all-in-one highly sophisticated comprehensive multi-nutrient supplement, containing vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, herbal extracts, specialty nutrients, including a broad range of potent antioxidants, but as importantly addressed the aforementioned four key anti-aging factors.

Why was Xtend-Life's Total Balance Our Number One Choice?

Product Development:

We were very impressed that the product was formulated by a highly credentialed scientific team that can blend these ingredients perfectly to ensure maximum benefits. To view all the ingredients used and scientific studies, click here: Total Balance.

Side Note: There are seven versions of Total Balance to suit individual needs.

Manufacturing Procedures:

We were impressed that Xtend Life adhered to pharmaceutical GMP compliance, which is among the most rigorous manufacturing standards for dietary supplements in the world.

Product Quality:

We were pleased that each ingredient used in Total Balance was backed by a Certificate of Analysis (COA) on file confirming their potency. In addition, the company did a series of crosschecks, including independent laboratory testing before purchasing any raw ingredients that guarantees their potency and safety. The company also only used standardized herbal extracts in their products, the purest herbal extracts with the highest quality and therapeutic benefits. Many products on the market do not use standardized extract, because it is much cheaper to produce.

Product Delivery System:

We were impressed that Total Balance was enteric coated. Enteric coating enables the tablets to pass through the stomach without the ingredients being damaged by stomach acid and, as such, this can increase the potency of some ingredients many times.

Value for Money:

We were pleased with the incredible value for the money - saving us hundreds of dollars per year.

Easy to Use:

Total Balance was not cumbersome and easy to use -- its an all-in-one natural health supplement containing over 75 specialized nutrients that the body needs for vibrant health.

Product Delivery:

The supplement was easy to order and we found their shipping costs very reasonable. In addition, we live in the U.S. so delivery time was a concern of ours since Xtend-Life is headquartered in New Zealand. We found their shipping to be extremely fast, usually arriving within several days.

Money-Back Guarantee:

Xtend-Life had a full 90 day return policy -- irrespective of the reason. Many places offer a scant 30 or 60 day guarantee.

Contact Information:

Their contact information was easy to find with detailed information.

Website Information:

We were very impressed with all the information provided at Xtend Life's website so we, as consumers, could make an educated decision about their natural health supplements.

So, if you're looking for natural health supplements to serve as the foundation of your supplemental daily program, provides exceptional value for money, reasonable priced, uses only the highest quality of ingredients, created by one of the top bio-scientists in the world, and is manufactured under the most stringent regulatory regulations, visit Xtend-Life Natural Products to learn more about Total Balance and the company.

We here at Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre have been taking Total Balance for several years now and can personally attest to its excellent results such as an increase in energy levels, mental clarity, and an increase feeling of well-being. However, keep in mind that its impossible to tell if Total Balance will be the right product for you because everybody reacts differently to different nutrients.

We also advise that you consult with a knowledgeable health care provider before taking ANY natural health supplements since some of these nutrients can interact with certain prescription medications as well as over the counter medications. In addition, it is highly recommended that if you have a health condition, or are pregnant or nursing to consult a knowledgeable health care provider before taking any natural health supplements.